Retrospective audit of different antenatal screening policies for Down's syndrome in eight district general hospitals in one health region.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of different screening policies for the antenatal detection of Down's syndrome.

DESIGN

Retrospective six year survey.

SETTING

Maternity units of eight districts.

PARTICIPANTS

Women who completed their pregnancies between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1999 (155 501 deliveries).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cases of Down's syndrome identified before 24 weeks' gestation.

RESULTS

335 cases of Down's syndrome were identified, 323 in continuing pregnancies or liveborn children. Of these, 171 were identified antenatally. Seven different screening policies were used, in three principal groups: serum screening offered to all mothers, maternal age with serum screening or nuchal translucency available to limited groups, and maternal age combined with anomaly scans. The districts that used serum screening detected 57%, those using maternal age plus serum or nuchal translucency screening 52%, and those using a maternal age of > or =35 and anomaly scans detected 54%. The least successful district, which offered amniocentesis only to women aged over 37 years, detected only 31%. If amniocentesis had been offered from 35 years, as in all other districts, the detection rate would have risen to 54%. Across the region 15% (range 12-20%) of pregnant women were 35 years or more at delivery, and 58% (33-69%) of infants with Down's syndrome were born to women in this age range.

CONCLUSIONS

Current additional serum or nuchal translucency screening techniques for antenatal detection of Down's syndrome are less advantageous than previously supposed. More pregnant women were aged over 35 than has been presumed in statistical models used in demonstration projects of serum screening and, as a result, the proportion of affected fetuses in this age group is much greater than predicted.